Sweat beads down his forehead as his exhausted eyes glance back and forth between the two boxes. The old creaking floorboards under his feet seem to screech with every step he takes. All of his senses seem heightened, and this causes his brain to race even faster. He worries about which life changing choice to make, which path he should follow. The world seems to be watching him as he slowly unfolds his sweaty arm to point at the box on the left. Sgt. Waters must also choose the path he must follow in life in Charles Fuller’s A Soldier’s Play. He is torn between the different ways he sees his race. In Charles Fuller’s A Soldier’s Play, Sgt. Waters expresses 3 parts of Charles Fuller’s “The Cycle of an -ism,” which may express his own conflicting
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Waters buys into the definition placed upon black people in a way. He is more under the impression that other black men are found under the definition placed on them by the oppressors. While talking to Private Wilkie, a man he has just caught drinking while on guard duty, Sgt. Waters says, “I don’t blame the white man— why the hell would he put colored and whites together in this war?” Sgt. Waters is buying into the definition that black men like Wilkie are not worthy to fight alongside white men, which implies that white men are indeed greater than people of other races. In the same situation with Wilkie, Sgt. Waters says, “You can’t even be trusted to guard your own quarters— no wonder they treat us like dogs.” Sgt. Waters is now comparing himself, Wilkie, and other black men to dogs. He seems to have completely accepted the definition set upon him. While drinking with Wilkie, Sgt. Waters became angry over a comment by Wilkie implying that he was not given enough chances. Sgt. Waters responded by saying, “Stop thinkin’ like a negro!” Waters is implying two things in this comment. He first implies that he is not included in the black race, and second, he implies that thinking like a negro is a bad thing. When Waters says, “You just like the rest of ‘em, Wilkie,” in the same situation, he again implies that he is not grouped with the black
Waters buys into the definition placed upon black people in a way. He is more under the impression that other black men are found under the definition placed on them by the oppressors. While talking to Private Wilkie, a man he has just caught drinking while on guard duty, Sgt. Waters says, “I don’t blame the white man— why the hell would he put colored and whites together in this war?” Sgt. Waters is buying into the definition that black men like Wilkie are not worthy to fight alongside white men, which implies that white men are indeed greater than people of other races. In the same situation with Wilkie, Sgt. Waters says, “You can’t even be trusted to guard your own quarters— no wonder they treat us like dogs.” Sgt. Waters is now comparing himself, Wilkie, and other black men to dogs. He seems to have completely accepted the definition set upon him. While drinking with Wilkie, Sgt. Waters became angry over a comment by Wilkie implying that he was not given enough chances. Sgt. Waters responded by saying, “Stop thinkin’ like a negro!” Waters is implying two things in this comment. He first implies that he is not included in the black race, and second, he implies that thinking like a negro is a bad thing. When Waters says, “You just like the rest of ‘em, Wilkie,” in the same situation, he again implies that he is not grouped with the black